Litter



2 sheets-sheet 1'- l oct. r23, 1945.

E. wlNER ETAL LITTER Filed June 28, 1943 Patented Oct. 23, 1945 f UNITED sTATEs PATENT "OFFICE,Y

Ephraim Winer and Albert Winer, Baltimore, Md., assignorsto The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application June 28, 1943, Serial No. 492,584

(c1. 5-sz 5 Claims.

This invention relates to litters and more particularly to folding pole litters.

Prior to the instant invention litters have been manufactured which incorporated straight poles for the support of the canvas portion of the litters and some prior litters have incorporated poles whichhave folded at points intermediate the ends I thereof.

It is an object of the instantA invention to proyide strong, light folding poles of novel construc- I tion for litters of the type which comprise a tion to provide a multisection wooden litter pole connected by metal links.

Other objects and the nature .and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followt ing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

`Figure l is a top or plan viewwof a litter pole e inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is aifront elevation of the pole shown inFigure 1; e

I Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View with parts shown in elevation of the pole shown in Figure 2 `and taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looki e, ing in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view wit parts shown in section of one of the joints of the pole, the joint being in partially `folded position; l

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a set of litter polesin partially folded position;

Fig. 6 `is a fragmentary perspective view of a joint of `one of the litter poles partially folded `in a different manner from that shown in Figure 5; and

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of one of the metal links incorporated injthe litter poles of the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawings, each litter pole comprises two end portions or sections I0 and a central portion or section II thetwo end portions being connected to the central portion by a pair of link assemblies I2.

The end portion I0 may be made of wood or other relatively soft surfaced material of similar nature. The outer extremity of each end portion III` may be formed in theshape of a handle I3 which is preferably of round or circular shape in transverse section. The' remainder of each end portion I0 may be formed of generally square transverse section rounded at the four corners thereof. The portions I0, like the central portion Il, are each approximately 30" long in'axial dimension.V l v The soft "surfaced material of the inner extremity I 4 of each end portion I I) is reduced in sectional area and is bound by a thin walled metal ferrule I5 which has lan outside dimension of approximately 11/2 square to conform with the remaining substantially square part of the end portion I0. The faces I6 of the inner extremities I 4 of the end portions I0 are perpendicular to the axis of the end portions for a distance approximately half the thickness of the end portions IIJ starting from the tops I'I thereof. The remainder of the faces IB is curved to correspond to aradius equal to the distance from the center ofthe rivets I8 to the faces I6 along the axis of the end portions Ill, whereby proper hinge action may be effected as Willlater be described about the rivets' I8 as pintles.

The` central portion II 'is made of wood or similar soft surfaced material of generally square transverse section with rounded corners and has a dimension of approximately 30" in length. The

two extremities of the central portion reduced parts located at the ends of the central l portion I I. l The faces I6 at the extremities III ends extending through the sides 22 of the ferrule I5, whereby the metal bushing 20 actually engages the sides 22 of the ferrule I5 in metal to metal Contact in addition to engaging the wood of the pole portion in a manner whereby the bushing is held in xed position with respect to the pole portion. The ferrule I5 is arranged to fit neatly within the interior of the channel likemember I9 with the face I6 being 'located in a plane passingtransversely `through the center of the channel like member I9 and the other extremity .of the ferrule I5 extending beyond the outer extremity 23 of the channel like member I9 for a predetermined distance as will be later explained. The rivets I8 pass through the side Walls of the channel like members I9 and through the bushings 2i) with which they are fitted in rotatable relation. The heads 24 of the rivets I8 are formed againstlthe rexterior side walls of the channel like member I9 in such a manner whereby the rivets may be stationary with respect to the channel like member I9 but rotatable with respect to the bushings ZI] and whereby all moving parts are in metal tormetal contact.

The metal channel like member I9 comprises a bottom portion 25 which is shorter than the side walls of the member I9 as shown in Figures 4 and 7 whereby the end portion I IJ in Fig. 4 may be rotated in a clockwise direction about the rivet i8 while holding the channel like member I9 stationary until the metal ferrule I5 contacts the end face 26 of the bottom wall 25 of the channel like member I9 so that the end face 26 acts as a stop and the stopping action is effected by metal to metal contact for the distance from the center of the rivet I8 to the end 21 of the Y ferrule i5 is sufficiently great to provide a metal surface for contacting the end face 26 when the end portion I has its axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the channel like member I9. As will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 4, the central portion II could be rotated in a counter clockwise direction and a similar metal to metal sto-p action would occur when the metal wall of the ferrule I5 contacted the opposite end face 26 of tbe short bottom wall 25 of the channel like member I9.

Referring to Figure 5, the pair of litter poles comprising end portions Ic and central portions l! folded in the shape of a U in a manner such that the canvas C shown in dotted lines forms a table. The handles I3 may be embedded in the ground or may rest on some solid plane surface. As shown in Figure 5, the central portions II have their axes in alignment with the axes of the channel like member I9 and the axes of the end portions I0 are perpendicular'to the axes of the member I9.

somewhat shorter though higher table like effect may be obtained by so folding the end portions it with respect to the central portions II that the end portions I0 have their axes in alignment with the members I9 and the central portion I! have their axes generally perpendicular tr-al portions II pivot about the rivets I8 of a single link connection I2. Y

It is to be noted that the faces I which t within the channel Ilike member I9 are solid and the portions of the pole may be of such dimension that the faces I6 substantially oontact each other to impart to the pole when unfolded'the Ydesired quality of rigidity. It is to be further noted that the construction of the parts is such that irrespective of the relative softness of the surface of the pole portions I0 and to the axes of the member I9 as shown in Figure 6.

VThe'litter shown in Figure 5 may be equipped with spreader cross bars and stirrups of conventional design or of any special design such as, for example, shown in the U. S. patent to McAfee et al. No. 2,087,984 or the U. S. Patent to Mollenhour No. 2,305,981.

Not only may the folding poles in accordance with the invention be folded as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, for example, with all the moving parts of the link connections being in metal to metal contact, but the assembly is so flexible that the poles may be folded in such a manner that the two end portions I 0 of each pole may cross so that when the litter utilizing poles in accordance with the invention is completely folded, a relatively small and compact package results. When the poles are so folded with the end portions crossed, both the end portions I 0 and the cen- I I, the link connections incorporate the metal to metal characteristic throughout in connection with all moving parts.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

` We cl'aim:

1. A litter comprising two poles, each poleincluding a, central section and opposed end sections, means pivotally connecting the end sections to the central section, said means comprising ferrules on the adjacent ends of the central section and end sections, a channel member between the end of the cenitral section, the ends of said sections projecting toward eac-h other beyond their respective pntle pins so that they overlie said web, the construction being such that each end section may be pivoted in one direction to a po sition in which it is: in alignment with the central section and held by said webl against further movement in said direction, and said end section may be pivoted in the opposite direction about either pintle of pair of pintles to a position in which it is normal tothe central section.

2'. A litte-r comprising two poles, each pole including a, central section and opposed endv sections, means pivotally connecting the end sections to the central section, said means comprising rectangular ferrules on the adjacent ends of the central section and end sections, a channel member between the adjacent ends of each end section and central section, said channel member comprisinga rectangular bottom web and side walls normal to said web and projecting fore and aft beyond the web, pairs of aligned apertures in the projecting ends of said side walls. a pintle pin in each pair of aligned apertures, one pintle pin.

passing :through the ferrule o-f the inner endfof an end section and the other pintle pin passing:

to the central section and held by said web againstfurther movement in the second mentioned direction.

3. A litter comprising two poles, each formed of a plurality of Wooden sections including a central section and opposed end sections, means pivotally connecting the end sections to the central section in a manner such that the stresses at said pivotal connections are transmitted .through metal-to metal connections, said means comprising metallic ferrules on the adjacent ends of the central section and end sections, a metallic bushing inserted througheach said ferrule and pole end, a metallic channel member between the adjacent ends of each end section and central section, said channel member comprising a bottom web and spaced parallel side walls projecting fore and aft beyond the web, pairs of aligned apertures in the projecting ends of said walls, a pintle pin in each pair of aligned apertures, one pintle pin passing through the bushing inthe ferrule on the inner end of an end section and the other pintle pin passing through the bushing in the ferrule on an end of the central section, the ends of said sections projecting toward each other beyond their respective pintle pins so that they overlie said web, the construction being such that each end section may be pivoted in onedireotion to a position in which it is in alignment with the central section and held b-y said web against further movement in said direction, and said end section may be pivoted in the opposite direction about either pintle of its pair of pintles to a position normal to the central section.

4". A litter comprising two poles, each formed of a plurality of wooden sections including a central section and opposed end sections, means pivotally connecting the end sections to the central section in 'a manner such that the stresses at said pivotal connections are transmitted through metal-to-metal connections, said means comprising metallic rectangular ferrules on the adjacent i central section, said channel member comprising a rectangular bottom web and spaced parallel walls normal to said web and projecting fore and aft beyond the web, pairs of aligned apertures in the projecting ends of said walls, a pintle pin in each pair of aligned apertures, one pintle pin passing through the bushing in the ferrule on the inner end of an end section and the other pintle pin passing through the bushing in the ferrule on an end of the central section, the ends of said sections projecting toward each other beyond their respective pintle pins so that they overlie said web, the construction being such that each end sectionmay be pivoted in one direction to a position in which it is in alignment with the central section and held by said web against further movement in said direction, and said end section may be pivoted in the opposite direction about either pintle of its pair of pintles to a position normal to the central section and held by said web against further movement in the vsecond mentioned direction.

5. A litter comprising two poles, each pole including a central section and opposed end sections, means pivotally connecting the end sections to the central section, said means comprising a channel member between the adjacent ends of each end section and central section, said channel member comprising a bottom webl and side walls projecting fore and aft beyond the web, pairs of aligned apertures in the projecting ends of said side walls, a pintle pin in each pair of aligned apertures, one pintle pin passing through the inner end of` an end section and the other pintle pin passing through an end of the central section, the ends of said sections projecting toward each other beyond their respective pintle pins so that they overlie said web, the construction being such that e'ach end section may be pivoted in one direction to a position in which itis in alignment with the central section and held by said web against further movement in that direction, or said end section may be pivoted in the opposite direction about either pintle of its pair of pintles to a position in which it is normal to the central section.

EPHRAIM WINER.. ALBERT WINER. 

